In the future, we might actually pay you to fly with us, said Skúli Mogensen, the CEO of WOWair, during an interview with Telegraph Travel.
The rise of budget airlines has made travel affordable for many people, allowing them to explore farther and more frequently than ever before. These budget airlines earn a significant portion of their revenue from extra services like checked luggage, in-flight meals, and seat selection. They also offer additional services such as car rentals and hotel bookings. The income from these services might eventually become more valuable than the fares for the seats. This could mean that WOWair and other airlines might be able to pay people to fly with them while still making a profit from the additional services. However, this opportunity won’t be available to everyone.
According to Mogensen, the passengers who might get paid to travel are those with whom WOWair has a strong relationship. These are travelers who see the airline as an essential part of their travel plans, including booking hotels and activities.
Mogensen also mentioned that social media can make it financially worthwhile for airlines to offer free flights to some customers. Nowadays, many people share travel photos with their friends before and after their trips. If WOWair does a good job and people spread the word on social media, this serves as powerful customer feedback. As these travelers become advocates for the airline, they could be rewarded with free flights.